BubbleStream

Linda Mahkovec

The Garden House

Synopsis

Turning fifty opens up Miranda’s life in ways she hasn’t expected, forcing her to come to terms with both old and new concerns. Chief among these is the mystery surrounding the tenant who is renting the family garden house for the summer. Is he the nice man he appears to be? Or is he the reason behind her increasingly disturbing dreams?

Author Biography

Linda Mahkovec is the author of fiction that celebrates the seasons, love, family, and home. Her main character is often a female with an artistic sensibility – a painter, a gardener, or simply someone who lives creatively and seeks out a life of beauty and meaning.
Another thread in Mahkovec’s work, no doubt rooted in her Midwestern sensibility, is the celebration of the seasons: the thrill of the first flowers of spring, barefoot summer nights, the nostalgic beauty of fall, and delight in the first snowfall.
Mahkovec was born and raised in a small town in Illinois. She then spent several years in the San Francisco Bay area and Seattle, and for the past thirty years has lived in New York City. She has a PhD in English, specializing in Victorian literature.

Author Insight

Disturbing dreams

Miranda tries to find the reason behind her increasingly disturbing dreams. She feels compelled to do something about them -- but what?
Her husband, Ben, is growing frustrated with what he sees as his wife's new obsession.

Book Excerpt

The Garden House

Ben poured out a cup of coffee, added some milk, and took a few sips. Then he stopped, leaned back in his chair, and turned his head to Miranda.

“Am I starting to have weird dreams now, or did you wake me in the middle of the night to tell me about a trapped kid?”

It sounded ridiculous in the sunlight and solid shapes of morning. But Miranda still had a sense of something being wrong. “It was so real, Ben. You know how some dreams are like that? It was like I was there and could hear him. I’ve had several of these dreams now, about the same little boy.” She hesitated a moment before continuing. “I’m beginning to think they mean something.”

Ben looked up, doubtful. “Like what?”

“I don’t know. What if there’s a child trapped somewhere? That’s the feeling I get. And that dream about the predator. And the daycare incident. It all makes sense. Somehow.”

“Our man Jasper,” said Ben, and bit into the English muffin. “Besides, you said nothing happened at the daycare.”

Everything was starting to get mixed up. Dreams, rumors, her insecurities. “I know it sounds crazy – but haven’t you ever had a flash of intuition, when you just know something?”

“No. I haven’t. Look, Miranda. The kids are fine. You speak to them every day. It’s that shelter. You said so yourself. I don’t want you going back there.”

She leaned against the counter, considering his words. “No, that’s not it.” She sat down and wrapped her hands around her coffee cup, as if for warmth. “Anyway, I told you, I’m not going back. I brought the last of the clothes.”

“Good. Then the dreams will stop.” Ben took another bite. “I think you just need to move on with things.”

“What does that mean?” Miranda asked defensively.

“Just that – the kids are gone. And you need to find something else to fill your time.”